Resolve ILPS issue, restore academic activity: FEGOCTA
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, August 20 2015 :
The Federation of Government College Teachers' Associations (FEGOCTA), Manipur has urged the Govt to resolve the ILPS issue with sincerity and restore academic activity.
In a statement, FEGOCTA said that the uncertainty and closure of educational institutions for over 40 days could have been avoided if the ILPS issue was seriously taken up by the political leadership with urgency and sincerity.
The teachers' body also condemned the violence at Moreh and other forms of violence.
The law enforcing agencies should perform their duties without fear and favour.
Sharing its thought on ILPS, FEGOCTA said that entries of unauthorized internal migrants and illegal foreigners into Manipur since the abolition of Permit System in 1950 are a reality.
Data/document by the government on such entries and their impact on Manipur society is required first to provide reasonable grounds and justification for suitable laws and policies.
New laws are required to protect lawful citizens, culture and identity of the indigenous ethnic groups, to prevent further demographic imbalance and possible disorder, it opined.
The state legislature can pass a new law and amend existing MLR & LR Act, 1960 under State List of 7th Schedule under Entry No.18 on Land for the protection of land rights of the indigenous ethnic groups.
Labour laws can be made by state legislature under Concurrent List of 7th Schedule under Entry 24: Labour welfare, it said.
In Manipur the State Government should implement Inter-State Migrant Workmen (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 1979 enacted by Parliament.
A base/cutoff year is necessary to identify unauthorized internal migrants and illegal foreigners in Manipur.
Census and voters' lists from 1951 onwards can be used.
Amending Constitution to empower the state legislature under Article 371 C becomes a necessity to protect land, culture and identity of all the indigenous ethnic groups including Meitei and also to regulate entry and exit of the persons from Manipur.
Such protection is already in existence for the scheduled tribe/areas in the neighbouring States like Mizoram and Nagaland.
Only Parliament has the power to amend the Constitution, it said.
With regard to the foreigners all the powers lies only with the Parliament and Union Government.
Failure to prevent entry of the illegal foreigners into North East from the neighbouring countries which surround 90% of the region in the last 65 years is obvious.
Hence power should be delegated to the State Governments in the North East to check, regulate and deport the illegal foreigners by amending the Acts passed by Parliament relating to the foreigners.
Making laws alone are not sufficient.
Awareness and necessity to develop new skills/occupation and creation of employment opportunities of the indigenous ethnic groups in Manipur are required.
Time has come to exempt the educational activities during protests/general strike in future by all.
For this to happen the Government need to recognize the importance of education first and address the issues/grievances of the people quickly and implement laws effectively.
The practice of reactive role only after crisis or general strike/blockade should end.
People have the power and responsibility that a functioning Government exists in Manipur, FEGOCTA posited.
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